From Product to System: Policy-Driven Chinese Automotive Globalization Enters a New Phase

Core Data China Auto Export Scale

Year Total Exports NEV Exports YoY Change

2022 3.11 million — —

2023 4.91 million — First globally

2024 5.86 million — +19.3%

2025 7.098 million 2.615 million +21.1%

Q1 2026 2.226 million 0.954 million +56.7%

Leading Chinese Automakers‘ Overseas Performance (2025)

Company Overseas Sales NEV Export Growth Global Footprint

BYD 1.05 million units +140% 117 countries; overseas revenue RMB 310B (38% of total), gross margin 19.46%

Chery 1.344 million units — 6 regional manufacturing hubs (Europe, Russia, South America, Middle East, Africa, SE Asia)

Geely 420,000 units +240% 88 countries, 1,200+ outlets; JV with Renault in Brazil

Great Wall 506,800 units — 1,400+ global channels, 170+ countries, cumulative overseas sales >2 million

In-Depth Analysis 1. Policy as the enabler: A multi-layer support system Unlike the fragmented policies of a decade ago, China has built a comprehensive policy framework to support automotive globalization:

2020 NEV Industry Plan (State Council): Committed to deep international cooperation, extending from manufacturing to R&D and marketing

2023 NEV Trade Cooperation Guidelines (8 ministries): Covering R&D, logistics (Ro-Ro/multimodal), financing, export credit insurance, brand building, and mutual recognition of standards

2025 Auto Industry Stability Plan (8 ministries): Targeting stable export growth with quality-led supply

2025 Export License System for BEVs (effective Jan 2026): Regulating exports to shift from volume to quality and brand focus

This layered support has enabled Chinese automakers to move offshore with confidence. 2. Four distinct globalization models Each leading automaker has carved its own path:

BYD: Vertical integration + captive logistics – Owns 8 Ro-Ro carriers (capacity ~1 million vehicles/year) and operates plants in Thailand, Uzbekistan, Brazil, and upcoming in Hungary, Malaysia, Cambodia .

Chery: Local citizenship through infrastructure – Has established six regional manufacturing hubs and recently opened its first overseas regional operations center in Europe (Spain R&D Institute) .

Geely: Strategic alliances – Leveraging Volvo, Proton, and Renault partnerships to share channels and production. The Geely-Renault Brazil JV expands Latin American footprint .

Great Wall: Full ecosystem localization – Operates 1,400+ overseas sales channels, multiple regional distribution centers, and the newly launched “Guiyuan” platform supporting five powertrain types (ICE/HEV/PHEV/BEV/FCEV) to adapt to local energy conditions .

Industry Insights

The competitive landscape has fundamentally shifted. Chinese brands are no longer just low-cost entrants; they are technology leaders with global production footprints. Collaboration—rather than confrontation—may offer the most viable path forward. The “system go overseas” approach creates opportunities for tier-1 suppliers to follow OEMs into new markets. Suppliers with established partnerships in China should explore co-location or JV arrangements abroad. When sourcing components for global programs, consider the localization readiness of Chinese suppliers. Those with overseas plants in Hungary, Thailand, or Brazil can offer better tariff protection and shorter lead times than those exporting solely from China.

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